Five destinations close to Ho Chi Minh City for the New Year's holiday

Travel time can be reduced for travellers from Saigon by selecting destinations within 200 km during the 3-day New Year holiday schedule.

100 - 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City, many tourist attractions are suitable for a short vacation during the New Year. Trekking and camping activities allow visitors to immerse themselves in nature after days in the smoky city, and the cost is not too expensive. Comfort-seeking travellers should not, however, choose these locations.

Travellers might choose to stay at standalone resorts if they seek total relaxation. The cost for this activity is often high in return for private space and high-class service.

Mr Chon Thanh, a tour guide and travel blogger in Ho Chi Minh City, suggests 5 tourist destinations near the city. Tourists can refer to a one-day, two-night trip with a budget according to their needs.

Camping and trekking in La Ngau

192 km from Ho Chi Minh City

Cost: 1 - 2 million VND

La Ngau Stream, Binh Thuan, located upstream of La Nga River, surrounded by Tanh Linh forest. This place possesses a pristine, quiet landscape, making it an ideal location for those who want to disconnect from the virtual world. The primary reason visitors come here is to camp beside the stream.

From Ho Chi Minh City to La Ngau, it is about 170 km, and it takes nearly 3 hours to travel through Phan Thiet Highway and turn at Highway 55. From here, visitors continue to the area of Our Lady of Ta Pao statue, turn left at La Ngau Bridge, and go about 2 km to enter the camping ground. The road near the camp is quite difficult, but cars can still get there. Visitors who do not have personal vehicles can contact the campground to book a 7-seat shuttle service.
La Ngau has the most beautiful weather of the year, one day experiencing 4 seasons; the sun at noon is not harsh. There are two types: glamping, luxurious camping with on-site amenities, and tent camping at unplanned locations. Mr Do Hieu, the owner of Boo Camp camping area in La Ngau, shared that currently, this area only has two camping service locations with operating licenses; the rest are spontaneous sites. Full-service camping costs range from 650,000 VND to 1 million VND per person per night, including meals. The tents here have mattresses, blankets, sheets, pillows, wifi, and separate toilets.

Visitors need to make reservations in advance if they plan to camp out. The closer the holiday gets, the fewer empty tents with beautiful views. On holidays, this camping site has no surcharge. During New Year, visitors can spend 2 days exploring this place with camping, campfire, SUP, and archery activities. Groups of 5 people or more who want to experience more activities can participate in trekking 5-14 km through Dami Lake and Ham Thuan Lake and volunteer in La Ngau commune. If camping freely, visitors can rent a beach with a guard on duty for 100,000-150,000 VND per night to ensure safety.

Explore Can Gio

More than 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City

Cost: 1 - 3 million VND

About 40 km Southeast of Ho Chi Minh City's centre, Can Gio is the only city district bordering the sea, with a 23 km long coastline. Possessing a unique geographical location resonating with typical natural conditions, many cultural relics, and a rich history, Can Gio attracts tourists to experience eco-tourism, green tourism, and agricultural and community tourism.

Currently, to get to Can Gio, visitors must cross the ferry. From the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, move towards Tan Thuan Bridge, then turn to Nguyen Van Linh, Huynh Tan Phat and Binh Khanh Ferry. The ferry ticket price has 17 levels (applicable from July 2022); the cheapest is 2,000 VND (pedestrians, bicycles), and the most expensive is 220,000 VND per trip (tractor). Common vehicles, such as motorbikes, cost 4,000 VND, and cars with less than 7 seats cost 23,000 VND.

Guests staying overnight in Can Gio can refer to service camping (glamping) activities near the beach at LATA Camping; tent prices range from 500,000 to 2.7 million VND per night. Homestay and resort accommodation options such as Hon Ngoc Phuong Nam Resort and Can Gio Resort are priced from 600,000 to 900,000 VND per night. Hana's House Homestay, Phuc Homestay, Eco Homestay, Cat Tuong Homestay, Homestay and Uncle Nam Dwarf restaurant cost 300,000 VND to 600,000 VND per night.

Can Gio has outstanding attractions, including the Vam Sat tourist area, the April 30 beach, Thanh An island, the Dan Xay ecological area, the Rung Sac revolutionary base, and the Hang Duong seafood market.

Camping in Ta Dung

About 250 km from Ho Chi Minh City

Cost: 1 - 3 million VND

About 250 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Dak Nong is located at the southwest gateway of the Central Highlands, with the capital being Gia Nghia City. Life here is not noisy and bustling but seems simple, with many unique cultural features of about 40 ethnic groups. This place also attracts tourists to the landscape of Ta Dung Lake, considered "Ha Long Bay of the Central Highlands".
Visitors can choose cars, buses, and motorbikes to travel to Dak Nong, Ho Chi Minh City. Bus tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Dak Nong, departing from the eastern bus station of bus companies such as Dai Nghia, Duyen Ha, and Hoang Long, range in price from 150,000 to 200,000 VND per person.

Ta Dung National Park is located in Dak Som commune, about 45 km Southeast of Gia Nghia City along Highway 28. The centre of the Park is Ta Dung Lake. Hydroelectric dam blocking activities have created an elevated lake with an area of about 22,000 hectares with more than 40 large and small islands and peninsulas. This is a destination to be noticed in Dak Nong.

Camping in Ta Dung, visitors can choose activities such as boating and enjoying the landscape of islands in the middle of the lake. In addition, this place also has granite waterfalls and dozens of rare flora and fauna species.

If you choose self-sufficient camping, choosing a campsite on the top of a hill to watch the sunrise, visitors need to prepare their tent, flashlight, blankets, pillows, warm clothes to stay overnight, food, and grill if eating or drinking). Guests can order food at the homestays. This area also has convenient accommodations such as Uncle Dong's House (Ta Dung Topview homestay), Uncle Hung's House (Ta Dung tourist area) and Freedom Green Village.

Bathing in hot mineral springs in Binh Chau

140 km from Ho Chi Minh City

Cost: From 2 million VND

Binh Chau is a commune in Xuyen Moc district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau. This place is 140 km from Ho Chi Minh City and is considered the green lung of the Southeast. In addition to walking around Ho Coc beach, bathing in hot mineral springs is a typical activity when mentioning Binh Chau.
To save costs, visitors can choose to stay at hotels or homestays in the commune and then book a private hot mineral bath service. If you have plenty of money, you should stay at a resort with a hot mineral bath.

Mineral bath ticket prices start from 170,000 VND per person depending on the type of mud, whether it is a mineral, large or small tub. In addition to bathing, visitors can soak their feet, massage, and eat boiled eggs in the hot water well. The price of staying at a resort complex with a mineral bath is from 2 million VND per night, depending on room type, with a separate entrance for guests who only buy tickets to enter the mineral bath.

Relax in Ho Tram

About 120 km from Ho Chi Minh City

Cost: From 3 million VND

Ho Tram is a famous tourist destination in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, impressive with its blue sea, fine sand, and quiet relaxing space. With the upcoming 2-day holiday, visitors can visit many destinations and enjoy fresh seafood and closed entertainment services.

There are many ways to get to Ho Tram; the most popular are by private car, limousine, or motorbike. Some resorts here have a free shuttle service for guests from Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Tram has many places to stay, from budget to luxury. If costs are limited, you can choose budget hotels and cheap motels such as Duy Tan Hotel, Ven Song Riverside Hotel, Sea View Hotel, Cat Dang Motel, and Hai Yen Motel.

More advanced, to enjoy fresh air, mingle with nature and have fun with relaxation or entertainment activities, there are two 5-star resorts, including InterContinental Grand Ho Tram and Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach, Located close to the sea, isolated. Holiday accommodation costs range from 3 million VND per night depending on room and villa type.

Also read: Beautiful resorts in Ho Tram that office people often come to enjoy on weekends